My first story using Jughead as the main character, please leave a review if you enjoy or if I should continue this story
Disclaimer: I do not own Riverdale
Jughead checked his bags for a 3rd time, making sure he had all his equipment before he left. 2 laptops, 2 iPads, 2 chargers for each of them. His trusty camera along with 3 back up batteries and 2 SD chips, his recorder and if all else failed an old school notepad and pen. Plus, he had 2 press passes just in case he lost one. He looked down at the badge currently clipped to his shirt Jughead Jones Lead Reporter: New York informer. This story could be his big break, the fact that it just so happened to be in his hometown of Riverdale was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because he knew the town well and it could give him a leg up in the investigation. I curse because this would be his first time returning home since he was 18, 10 years ago. The case? Over the past 6 months, 5 children between the ages of 4 and 12 had been kidnapped from the small town all of them boys. Three were later found, wondering the streets confused with absolutely no memory of what had happened. The other 2 had yet to be found.
As Jughead approached his hometown he quickly realized that today was the day of the towns annual 4th of July BBQ. Glancing at the clock he realized he still had another hour before he could check into his motel room, so he figured "What the heck, I'll stop by, who knows maybe I'll get an early lead"
Jughead made his way through the crowd of the park where Riverdale's annual 4th of July picnic was being held it was very crowded the whole town had to be here and then some.
As he scanned the crowd for any familiar faces his eyes caught a small blonde boy who couldn't be more then 3 or 4 years old standing under a tree his hands to his eyes as if he were crying. Jughead looked around for any adults that the young boy might belong to. Not seeing anyone he hesitantly approached the boy
"Hey-uh little guy," he said nervously kneeling to the boy's height.
The boy looked up at Jughead sniffling
His big brown eyes taking him by surprise, somehow, they looked so familiar, but he couldn't place them.
"What's your name?" Jughead asked
The boy remained silent
"Are you lost?" Jughead asked
The boy let out a small whine
"No no don't cry." Jughead looked around nervously to see if anyone was looking at him. They weren't.
"Mommy and daddy said don't talk to strangers," the boy said in a trembling voice
Jughead nodded "That's a good lesson your parents taught you. But I promise I'm not a bad guy. I can help you find them, what's your name?" He asked trying to calm the boy's nerves
"Fenix" the boy spoke in a soft tone, seeming to become more comfortable with Jughead
"Okay Fenix, my name is Jughead "he put out a hand for the boy to shake
Instead, Fenix looked at him oddly "Jughead?" He scrunched up his face, once again looking familiar to Jughead once again.
Jughead laughed lightly "I know kinda a silly name huh? I'm named after my dad and his dad before him"
Fenix nodded "Daddy named me after a guitar," he said his voice becoming more open
"Is that so? What are your parents' names?" Jughead asked feeling that the boy was getting more comfortable with him
Fenix shrugged "Mommy and Daddy"
Jughead sighed like that was going to help at all.
"Fenix!" Jughead heard a panic-stricken voice say
Fenix's face lit up and he quickly lost interest in Jughead "Mommy!" He ran off
Jughead watched as Fenix ran to a blonde woman's arms
It only took him a second to realize the woman was Betty. Betty was a mom now? The face scrunching made sense, it was the same face Betty used to make.
Quickly Jughead stood and made his way to them
Betty was still hugging Fenix close to her "Don't you ever scare mommy like that again" she said kissing the top of his head
"I promise I was just trying to figure out who his parents were," Jughead said awkwardly not really knowing what to say
Betty looked up her eyes widening "Jughead!"
She quickly set Fenix down and gave him a hug "I didn't know you were back in Riverdale!"
"I was talking to him mommy, he said he would help me find you and Daddy. I'm sorry I know I'm not spost to talk to strangers" Fenix said as he pulled on her arm
Betty smiled down at him and nodded "That's right, but in this case, it's okay mommy actually knows Mr. Jughead"
She turned her attention back to Jughead "Thank you so much for talking to him, my mom was supposed to be keeping an eye on him while I waited in line for food, but you know how she is. With all the kidnappings that have been happening lately, I almost had a heart attack"
Jughead nodded "That's actually why I'm here, I'm doing some reporting, see if I can work my magic and dig anything up" he explained
Betty looked impressed "Oh that's right you work for that big publishing company in New York, right?"
Jughead tilted his head "Yeah and if I can land a story here there is a good chance they'll move me to the editor and chief"
Betty smiled "Well wouldn't that be a treat, I wish I had some news about it but at this point, I probably know as much as you do. Hey, we are going to eat want to come eat lunch with us?" Betty rose an eyebrow
"Yeah sure, why not" Jughead flashed a half smile
Betty grabbed Fenix's hand then the boy extended a hand for Jughead to take
Hesitantly Jughead took the boys hand and Betty lead them through the crowd toward a picnic table, where Alice sat. She had aged since he'd last need her but seemed to of aged well. In her lap sat two red headed toddlers dressed in matching red, white and blue dresses "Oh, thank God you're alright Fenix, come here" she said as she set the toddlers down on the bench. Fenix released both their hands and ran around the picnic table engulfing her in a hug.
The two-toddler girl face's lite up at the sight of Betty "Mama!" "You come back" they smiled brightly
Betty grinned at them "Yes I did I found your bubby "she told them
She looked at her mom who now held Fenix in her lap "Have they ate yet?" She asked sitting across from her
Alice shook her head "No, we were waiting for you two to return."
"I see that you also found someone else?" She nodded toward Jughead standing awkwardly at the head of the table
Betty looked at him "Oh sorry Jughead, come sit." She patted
Jughead moved sitting on the other end of the bench Betty was on "Jughead is here doing a report for all those kidnappings that have been happening." Betty explained "Jug, these are my twin daughters Parker and Presley"
Betty reached across the table picking up the toddlers and setting them in the space between him and her. Parker sitting closest to him. He looked down at the toddler her bright blue eyes matched Betty's along with her sisters. He wondered who they got the red hair from and how Fenix ended up with those familiar brown eyes "Parker like the Poet?" He asked
Betty nodded "Yes exactly, see mom I told you people would know who she was named after"
Alice rolled her eyes "Only took almost 2 years for people to catch on"
Jughead chuckled lightly "So Mrs. Cooper, you have two sets twin grandchildren now huh?"
Alice nodded "Yeah can you believe it? Except Parker and Presley are identical if you hadn't noticed." Betty rolled her eyes "I'm sure he did mom"
Jughead watched as Betty cut up two hot dogs. As she did so he took notice of the wedding ring on her finger. She handed them to each of the twins. Fenix who was now sitting across from Betty was old enough to eat the hotdog without it being cut.
"Where's daddy?" Fenix asked his mouth full
Betty shook her head "Don't talk while you eat" she scolded handing him a napkin "and he won't get off work till later, Jug we have an extra hotdog if you'd like one" she said holding up a tin foil wrapped hot dog
Jughead shook his head "No thanks, I stopped on my way here"
Betty nodded and began eating her hot dog. After finishing her hotdog Alice left saying she needed to get home, leaving Jughead at the table alone with Betty and her 3 kids. He watched as she cleaned them up and discarded of their garbage
"We are probably going to be heading home," she said setting the twins in the double stroller "But I'm meeting Ronnie at Pops for dinner tonight, I'm sure she'd like to see you" Betty rose an eyebrow
Jughead nodded "Yeah I'd like that"
Betty smiled "Awesome, we're all meeting at 7" she informed
"See you then"
Betty nodded sending Jughead a wave. He watched as she walked through the crowd pushing the large stroller with Fenix holding onto the side of the stroller.
Jughead stood outside of Pops, he glanced down at his phone 6:55.
"Told you He was here" he heard Betty's voice. Jughead looked up she was walking toward him from the parking lot and beside her was...Archie
"Oh my God man! How long has it been?" Archie quickly engulfed him in a tight hug
"Apparently longer then I realized," Jughead said as soon as he squirmed out of the hug
Archie was broader now his hair may be a little shorter but not much and he had the slight stubble of a beard
"You and Betty..." Jughead pointed
Archie smiled widely throwing his arm around Betty's shoulders "Yeah it was about 6 years ago now. It all just kinda happened... meant to be" he looked at her adoringly
Betty returned the smile "We dated for 6 months, were engaged for 5 before we got married then 11 months after that we had Fenix" she explained
Jughead nodded that made sense why he hadn't heard about it. About 5 years after he left Riverdale, he decided to go "Off-world" travel the world, doing reporting and working under an alias. He did that for about 3 years before getting his job in New York.
"Yeah then 2 years after that they had their 2-red-headed beauty's and now they have ANOTHER on the way"
They both turned to see Veronica walking up arms linked with a tall heavy set dark haired balding man
"Hey Jug" Veronica smiled embracing him in a hug which he returned
They pulled apart and Jughead eyed them both he didn't notice that Betty was pregnant before but looking at her now maybe there was the slightest bump, but her dress was poufy, so it was hard to tell
Veronica though undoubtedly had a baby bump
"Your both pregnant?" he asked pointing a finger
Betty nodded "Yeah, we aren't really telling many people yet I'm only 9 weeks. The twins will be 2 and Fenix will be 4 by the time the baby is born" she explained
Archie leaned down kissing her cheek
"Yeah these two got together and I don't think they ever stopped putting their hands on each other" Veronica joked "This, on the other hand, is mine and Reggie's first" she smiled down rubbing her belly
"Reggie?" Jughead asked surprised
The man with Veronica took a step forward "Hey Jughead I was wondering when you were going to say something" he smiled
Jughead hadn't even recognized him "Hey Reggie, "he said awkwardly, they were never that close so thankfully a proper greeting wasn't necessary
"Where are you staying while you investigate this case?" Reggie asked making conversation
"The motel in town" Jughead explained
Archie's head perked up "You're staying at that dump? Nonsense, why don't you stay with Betty and me?"
Betty nodded "Yeah Jughead, we have enough room. That is if you'd like"
Jughead contemplated before nodding his head "Yeah sure"
Veronica smiled "Okay well now that's all settled why don't we head inside? I'm starving"